--- loncom/interface/lontemplate.pm	2010/01/31 06:03:55	1.43
+++ loncom/interface/lontemplate.pm	2011/05/13 19:45:28	1.43.4.1
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # "Template" Functions to generate html output
 #
-# $Id: lontemplate.pm,v 1.43 2010/01/31 06:03:55 faziophi Exp $
+# $Id: lontemplate.pm,v 1.43.4.1 2011/05/13 19:45:28 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -181,8 +181,12 @@ sub print_template_fields {
 					&Apache::lontemplate::print_end_template($r);
 				} else {
 				    my $safeinit;
-                    $r->print(&Apache::lonxml::xmlparse($r,'tex','<h3>'.$fields{$field}.'</h3>'));
-                    $r->print(&Apache::lonxml::xmlparse($r,'tex',$message));
+                                    if ($fields{$field}=~/\w/) {
+                                        $r->print(&Apache::lonxml::xmlparse($r,'tex','<h3>'.$fields{$field}.'</h3>'));
+                                    } else {
+                                        $r->print(&Apache::lonxml::xmlparse($r,'tex','<br />'));
+                                    }
+                                    $r->print(&Apache::lonxml::xmlparse($r,'tex',$message));
 				}
 				push(@html_ids,$field);
 			}